Kaito Chukwuka
MIT Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Aristide Gumyusenge
Research Supervisors: Arghya Roy, Geon Gug Yang
Undergraduate Institution: University of Southern Mississippi
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Website: LinkedIn
Biography
Kaito Chukwuka is a junior at the University of Southern Mississippi, majoring in Polymer Engineering. His research focuses on advanced materials for energy research and bioengineering applications for healthcare. At his home institution, Kaito is actively involved in the Xiaodan Gu Research Lab, working on flexible electronics and solar cell fabrication for sustainable energy solutions. At MIT, he is currently researching Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs) for biosensing in the Organic Materials for Smart Electronics (OMSE) lab. In addition to his research, Kaito contributes to scientific writing and has co-authored ‘Math In Case You Missed School’ and ‘The Power of Energy.’ Outside of academics, he enjoys creating abstract art and Deejaying. Kaito aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in Advanced Materials, aiming to develop engineering solutions that address societal challenges and make a significant impact in the field of bioengineering.
Abstract
Enhancing Transconductance in Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs) through In-channel Ionic Liquid Incorporation
Kaitochukwu Chukwuka1, Geon Gug Yang2, and Aristide Gumyusenge2
1Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi
2Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are crucial biosignal transducers characterized by their high amplification capacity, though their operation speed is typically limited. In this work, we seek to boost both the transconductance and operational speed of OECTs by integrating ionic liquids into the polymer channels. OECTs are well-suited for bioelectronic applications due to their compatibility with biological environments, leveraging their ability to manage both electron and ion transport. The study investigates the effects of combining the conjugated polymer pFN-DOF with different ratios of 1-Methyl-3-butylimidazolium triflate to enhance ion exchange and charge mobility. By comparing OECTs with pristine pFN-DOF channels to those infused with the ionic liquid, we hypothesize that the latter will show superior transconductance and faster operation. Our methodology includes electrical conduction experiments, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for surface morphology assessment, and UV-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-vis) to verify the uniform distribution of the ionic liquid. Initial findings indicate that ionic liquid addition results in nanoscale phase segregation, creating a more ordered polymer structure, which enhances ion-to-electron transduction and overall device performance. This research aims to advance bioelectronic devices by elucidating the benefits of ionic liquid integration in polymer matrices.
